I like the colours but I think it is a little flat, has no dimension. The grass, bricks etc seems very 1 dimensional. You either have to adjust your windlight settings and move the sun so you create more shadow...or...as increasing contrast didn't work add some light and shade with some burning. If you can give me the URL I'll take al ook at the place and maybe I can help you more on the windlight bit. I'm sure someone else could give you some better post prod tips.

It looks cut off at the top, try a wider angle to get more of the head - I also would try to have more look through the gate, turn your camera around and try. The colors are ok... but try to use the haze and distance settings on windlight - I could imagine *FunkyFunkyFunky* as sky setting could give a nice dramatic effect on this scenery. Also, play along with sun position and angle and find a position you like :-)

1.wait it until it is fully rezzed.
2.take a lot of snapshots from the best angles u could get by ur cam, and look at it the next day, trust me ur judge will change.

3.at best angle start to play a little with ur windlight, dont start from scratch, try most ready persists until u get something u like, and edit it .. improve it. it is one of my secrets any way.

4.try different croppings.

5.dont try to hard. just smile and take ur time.

Composition is paramount in any photograph. As noted above this feels flat. It lacks a clear focal point: What am I, the viewer, supposed to look at first? What should catch my eye? (what caught your eye enough that you wanted to shoot this location?) Use your cropping and angle to point my eye in that direction.

Remember the rule of thirds.

Could someone please explain the rule of thirds please ??

:-D

OH, and the fact that it hasn't rezzed, gives it a surreal feel...even if it's probably accidental.
I've found that playing around with the draw distance slider, can give you interesting affects, or can help with getting rid of unwanted objects in the background....definately another tool to experiment with.

agrees with all that is stated here.

Ok, so I was thinking, Pier (which I sometimes do...LOL),that your idea makes an interesting case study into peoples tecniques and styles, if we were to pick a certain subject, as you've done here, and see other peoples takes on it.

Not as a contest in any way, but just as an opportunity to see how a similiar subject is tackled by different peoples style and tecnique.

Should be fairly simple to pick a subject every fortnight or so,add a SLurl, and tag such as BEGUILE here, for easier tracking, and have the subjects reviewed and compared.

I would be very interested in seeing the various results, and I think we could probably learn a lot, through questions and answers.

In any case, heres my take on BEGUILLE:
koinup.com/PANTELEIMON-AEON/work/52283/

:-D

I agree with mostly above in that the cropping is not right - as your eye is confused as to what to look at in the picture and it does look as though it's been accidentally cut. Also tht shadow work could be improved on - as said with windlight etc.

Panteleimon - I like your idea to see everyone's take on a particular picture :)

I think I will have to go and visit this place now and have a go myself at the picture - although I am a stickler for not taking things straight on - I am a wonky angle girl ;))

I look forward to seeing your take on this, BBeau :-D

As for the wonky angles, I love them also, and avoid centering as much as possible, but it's very hard with this particular subject, as there are a lot of distracting articles to the left,right and above...there was a particularly annoying floating platform above the structure when I was there,and it deterred me from taking a lower angle which I wanted to do...LOL

...and I'm sure everyones takes will be very different...lets see what pops up :-D

Well, thanks Pier, but my idea came about from your idea...and that's what's great I suppose, that collectively we can come up with interesting concepts and projects :-D

As for the organisation, thats your expertise, but I'll be more than happy to help in any way, if I can, and I'm sure others will too.

Maybe adding a notice on the page where you post the contests...or even a totally separate page, with SLurls and tags for the subjects?

And they can stay open, so that even in six months time, someone can come and try their hand at 'beguille' for example,and have it reviewed...also of interest would be before and after shots, as Ji Dallagio often does...
This should basically be a learning experience for all who are interested.

So there, just a few thoughts of mine on the subject :-D